We’re disappointed that Catholic officials continue to treat their flock like children and withhold potentially helpful information about the misconduct of priests.

KC Bishop Robert Finn is the only sitting US bishop to have been convicted for endangering kids after hiding evidence of a priest’s possession of child porn from police. So prudent people are skeptical of any claims Finn might make about alleged wrongdoing by clerics.

If Fr. Ramirez stole money, exploited adult parishioners or groomed potentially vulnerable kids, even if there’s no solid proof of a crime, Catholics in Idaho and Kansas City deserve to know this.

We hope that anyone who may have seen, suspected or suffered misdeeds or crimes by Fr. Ramirez will call law enforcement.